Japan PM's tax giveaway roils markets and worries voters

As she announced the dissolution of parliament last week ahead of a February 8 vote, the ultra-conservative leader promised to exempt food products from an eight percent consumption tax for two years in response to soaring living costs. It's a measure also strongly supported by opposition parties. But her comments immediately rattled the bond market, worried by the prospect of fiscal slippage, with yields on 30- and 40-year Japanese bonds jumping to record highs. That evoked fears of a repeat...